Drug Science

New outdoor smoking bans would treat vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) equally to cigarettes. While we agree with making smoking harder and less visible, grouping safer alternatives with cigarettes is the wrong move. Our response 👉 drugscience.org.uk/vape-and-tobac…

Humans have been using alcohol for millennia. Is it time to update the recipe? This week on the podcast, David Orren joins Prof Jo Neill to discuss alcohol in society, the story of Gaba Labs and the challenges of taking on the alcohol industry. Out now on all platforms 🎧

Cocaethylene forms in the body when cocaine and alcohol are consumed together, and has its own unique effects distinct from those of either drug. New research from our journal looks at the connection between the molecule and cases of suicide. Read now: drugscience.org.uk/cocaethylene-s…

Until 2004, personal ideology predicted a person's views on cannabis better than whether they identified as Democrat or Republican. Now, cannabis attitudes are about ingroup v outgroup more than personal opinion. Read the full article 🔗 drugscience.org.uk/usa-cannabis-s…

We want new drug regulations to be informed by the data, but as medical cannabis advances across Europe, how do we make sure this actually happens? Drug Science's Dr Anne Katrin Schlag is leading a panel to discuss at Cannabis Europa London. Tickets at: cannabis-europa.com

Want to practise PAT in New Zealand? This June, TheraPsil are launching their New Zealand-focused online training program , combining general training in psilocybin with NZ- and Māori-specific information and guidance. ⏬️Learn more and enrol now ⏬️ drugscience.org.uk/psychedelic-tr…

Have you bought your tickets yet to #ICPR 2026? Drug Science Community Members can receive 10% off - email community@drugscience.org.uk for your unique discount code! See you in Haarlem from June 4-6 ✨ icpr-conference.com/tickets

We're incredibly proud to announce Returning To Wholeness: a four-day psilocybin retreat for people living with or beyond cancer. 🗓️ 24–27 August 2026 📍De Hoorneboeg, Netherlands. 🌼 Free of charge to those who need it. Learn more and apply at: drugscience.org.uk/returning-to-w…

Healthcare professional interested in working with psychedelics? PsyEdu's excellent part-time Professional Certificate in Psychedelic Practice programme is running again in 26/27. Sign up for the online open evening on 13th May to learn more 🔗⬇️ eventbrite.co.uk/e/psyedu-open-…

Trump's executive order is designed to accelerate late-stage research into psychedelic therapies. In our latest blog post, we break down what this means, who's affected, and why ibogaine is getting so much attention. Check out the full article now 👇 drugscience.org.uk/trump-ibogaine…

Want to keep up with what we're publishing in 2026? Subscribe to our email newsletter at drugscience.org.uk to get all our latest publications directly in your inbox.

4. Cannabis helps with Ehlers-Danlos symptoms Looking at EDS sufferers in Project T21, we showed that cannabis: - Reduced pain severity and interference in daily life - Improved mood and depression - Improved quality of life - Reduced opioid use journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

Happy 4/20! The last year has seen some big developments in the cannabis space, and we've been keeping track. Here are our favourite papers and blog posts we've published since this time in 2025...

What if Freud’s theories of dreams contain more truth than once thought?☁️ @Mark_Solms joined @ProfDavidNutt to discuss how his groundbreaking scientific research on dreaming led him to pioneer the use of psychoanalysis in modern neuroscience. drugscience.org.uk/podcast/episod…

"The decades-long war on drugs has failed. The evidence is clear: a more compassionate, health-first approach to drug policy that decriminalises use and possession and supports those formerly marginalised by criminalisation has myriad benefits." thelancet.com/journals/lanhi…

Curious about the UK's police-led drug diversion? Don't miss this full-day event - important for anyone interested in more effective ways of dealing with drug-related offending. Uni of Sheffield, 18/6 🎟️ @sheffielduni @PoliceChiefs @CollegeofPolice onlineshop.shef.ac.uk/conferences-an…

How did psychedelics end up in the most restrictive category of international control? 📖 Archival records tracing the origins of the 1971 Convention reveal a process shaped not just by science, but by politics, media narratives, and Cold War tensions. drugscience.org.uk/how-psychedeli…